Using Sounds of Nature to Complete Your Spa Environment

We are all aware of the physical, emotional and mental ramifications of stress in our lives, especially in today’s economic environment.

It has never been more important than right now to find a bit of peace and serenity, to make a place in our minds and hearts where we can wash away daily stressors and become one with our soul again.

Creating a spa environment at home is quite a personal experience. Everyone’s living spaces are as different as they are, but there are a few common grounds we can explore to get there.

Of course, the first step is to make yourself a private area in your home where you can lock out the world for at least 30 minutes at a time. It should be uncluttered, quiet and unfettered.

Using aromatherapy is essential here to creating the perfect spa environment. Scented candles, bath salts with essential oils, even essential oil placed on sachets around the room are enough to layer your favorite soothing scent around you.

Background sound is also critical to completing your at-home spa space. While music from your favorite artist might be pleasing, it’s not really going to contribute to your relaxing environment. Calming sounds of nature, such as gentle rain or ocean waves, is like nature’s lullaby, especially when paired with soft acoustic melodies from a guitar, harp, flute or piano. This is a cleansing sound that washes over you, and induces feelings of coziness and security.

Jungle sounds from the rain forest, with wildlife noises and trees rustling have a slower tempo and can help you ease into a meditative state of calm. The rhythm controls breathing and heart rate, stabilizing blood pressure and reducing your stress level.

Add in sounds of thunder crashing and wind through the trees in a storm and you will find yourself in a happier, more secure state. Often viewed as white noise by listeners, sounds of the storm can mesmerize you and lull you into serenity.

Nature sounds CDs are relatively inexpensive, usually under $10, and can be found in many places, even the corner drugstore. It’s a worthwhile investment in the soul’s health and well being.

Relieving Stress Through Daily Meditation

The daily affliction of stress in our society is nothing short of an epidemic. Forget the flu; this epidemic can take you out of commission for a lot longer than 72 hours. Suffering from the weight of stress is more than just mental exhaustion. It has real physical signs and symptoms, and often leaves your emotions in tatters. It is the frequently undiagnosed cause of many health problems.

Fortunately, there are many ways to release that stress, almost as many as there are stressors themselves. Finding an appropriate outlet for your daily dose of stress is important and can save lots of heartache as life goes on.

Becoming more popular as a stress relieving method is meditation. The simple beauty of this practice is that it takes no money, very little space (you can meditate anywhere) and has dramatic results. All it takes is a small time commitment and a dedication to feeling better.

Stress release from meditation is achievable both in the very short term and long term. True believers promise you can see and feel the difference in yourself from the very first session. Practicing meditation takes only 15 to 30 minutes daily, and can be done wherever you happen to find yourself when you have that time available.

Here’s how to begin:  Sit comfortably, preferably cross-legged on the floor if it is convenient. Then, concentrate on your breathing. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Listen to yourself breathe; make it become the only thing that it exists. Through this, free your mind. Push all thoughts aside until your mind is clear. That clarity will take you to the next level.

Relax your muscles slowly, starting with your feet and toes. Picture each muscle as it relaxes. Work your way up your legs, to your torso, arms and finally your face. Used your relaxed state to go deeper inside yourself, and keep that breathing regular.

By practicing meditation for stress release, your blood pressure is decreased, your body uses the oxygen in your blood more efficiently and you produce less adrenaline. Your brain will function with much more clarity, allowing you to think and contemplate situations rather than simply react based on adrenaline.

Meditation has no cost associated with it, but some people do use aromatherapy in their practice. Experiment and see what works best for you, and start reaping the benefits!

Laugh for Health

When was the last time you had yourself a really good laugh?

I’m talking the kind of laugh where your ribs are sore after, you can’t catch your breath, and there are tears streaking your mascara. If you can’t remember, then you are missing out on a number of holistic benefits for mind and body.

A good belly laugh does more than just tickle your funny bone. It relieves stress both mentally, with its release, and physiologically, by reducing at least four of the hormones associated with stress response (epinephrine, cortisol, growth hormone and dopamine).

And while an uncontrollable giggle relaxes the muscles in your body, it tightens the ones in your abdomen, sort of like an internal jog, circulating oxygen more efficiently and providing a bit of cardiac conditioning. This also helps to lower pressure naturally.

Lungs also get a good workout from laughter; when you laugh, you expel more air than you take in, resulting in a cleansing effect. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema will get the same benefits from laughter as they do from doctor-prescribed deep breathing exercises.

Mirthful laughter also boosts your immune system by activating your T-lymphocyte cells and antibodies, which attack viruses and other harmful intruders. And, on top of all of these benefits, one good belly laugh releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, proven to help alleviate muscle aches and pain associated with arthritis.

Nothing funny about your life right now? Here are a couple of tips to get you in the mood:

•    Watch a funny movie.
•    Get together with a close friend to reminisce about the good times.
•    Have a favorite comedian, like George Carlin or Lewis Black? Rent yourself a stand-up DVD and just let go.
•    Go see a local pee-wee football or soccer game … those little guys are sure to get you giggling.
•    Log on at jokeoftheday.com – indulge in some mindless whimsy!

And the best part about letting go and laughing until you roll on the floor? It’s free. And has no side effects!

Simple Steps To Make Your Living Space Greener

Our Earth has taken care of us and nurtured our people since the beginning of days. Isn’t it time we give some of that love back?

A few simple steps to make your living space a little greener with not only benefit the environment and your family, but your pocketbook as well. Many tips on saving energy also save dollars, and can go far in the long run to help our planet be healthy.

Many of us already make a concerted effort to recycle paper, plastic and aluminum but that just isn’t enough to truly go green. Here are some ways we can start right now:

• Replace your regular light bulbs with CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs may cost a smidgen more up front, but they use a lot less energy. By trading out the most readily used bulbs in your house, the savings is approximately $100 yearly. (If every family in the U.S. did this, the gas emissions would be reduced by one trillion pounds!)

• Go low-flow. Installing low-flow shower heads and faucets aerators in your home saves water without sacrificing water pressure. The low-flow units made today aren’t like the ones years ago that got such a bad rap; you’ll still enjoy your shower! Inexpensive and very available, your savings will be about $285 a year.

• Check your home for leaks. It’s easy to do. Just turn off all water using appliances and read your water meter. Wait about 30 minutes, and then read it again. If the numbers changed, you have a leak somewhere. Did you know a leaky toilet can waste up to 100 gallons of water a day?

• Plant a tree! Shade trees lower your cooling costs by 25%, provide oxygen for the environment and give small birds and animals a home. Properly placed trees and shrubs can also act as a natural windbreaker, shielding your home and reducing heating costs in cold weather.

• Go Florida-friendly with landscaping. Plants and other vegetation made for our state’s harsh conditions require lots less water and fertilizer to be hearty.

• Clean with the “green seal.” There are many choices out there now for natural, non-toxic household cleaners. They’re low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) and stamped with the Green Seal.

• Support green businesses. Whenever you can, buy fresh organic foods from your local farmer’s market. Select a dry cleaners or nail salon that uses only green compounds (Yes, they are out there!).

Of course, little things like programming your thermostat and changing air filters monthly also help out. For more tips on turning your home green, log on to energysavers.gov.

Take Care of Your Feet at Home

Hardworking, tired feet deserve a little pampering at the end of the day. But who has money today to spend at the spa – or the time for that matter?

The good news is it’s very easy to set yourself up for one at home without giving up any of the special treatment, and for very little cost.

Fill a basin, a large flat bowl or a big soup pan with warm water to your comfort level. If you don’t have commercial foot soaking tablets at home (many of us don’t), try a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of your favorite bath oil or beads will do the trick. For extra-dry feet, add a quarter cup of milk to the mix.

While that’s soaking into the water, remove old polish. Stick to non-acetone nail polish remover, as toe nails tend to get drier than fingernails, and need the extra moisture. Try using cotton make-up remover pads instead of cotton balls; they won’t leave any strands of cotton behind to muck up the polish.

Treat tired, dull skin to a good exfoliating body scrub. Here comes the good part:  soak those tootsies! Enjoy the refreshing, soothing warm water for at least 15 minutes to soften callused areas and tough heel skin. Pat your feet dry with a towel, and right away tend to rough dry spots with a skin file or pumice stone. You can also apply a commercial foot sloughing cream, available relatively cheap at drugstores.

You feet need deep moisturizing, regardless of the condition of your skin. Don’t use hand or body lotion, though, which are not designed for your feet’s special needs. Pick up a foot cream ahead of time. For an extra boost, choose one with peppermint oil. Take your time to massage it into your feet, ankles and calves to get blood circulating.

Tackling the condition of toe nails doesn’t have to be a scary prospect. Use an orange stick to clean under the tips and to gently push back your cuticles.  For stubborn, overgrown cuticles, use cuticle remover cream. Clip the nails straight across, and leave about 1/8 of a tip.

File them into a soft square shape, moving your emery board in one direction to round corners. No metal files! They tear your nail.

Use toe separators. Apply a base coat, preferably one with vitamins. Then, choose a long-lasting polish, since toe nails chip quicker than fingernails. A clear top coat is also a must, for the same reason. Remember to let dry completely before you slip on shoes.

Want to go for a complete spa experience? Don’t forget relaxing music, and your favorite Sacred Glo candles!

How To Exfoliate Your Skin

Nothing says healthy like radiant, glowing skin. And with summer here, it’s prime time to take some extra steps to get your body ready for showing off.

Like the rest of our organs, skin needs to breathe. And since it is in a constant state of renewal, dead skin cells build up on the epidermis, giving skin a dull, dry appearance.

You need to exfoliate your entire body once weekly for that radiant glow we all crave. The steps to doing it right are easy ones – and you can even make yourself a terrific at-home body scrub!

First, you need to actually prepare your skin ahead of time. Brush body softly with a loofah sponge or mitt, or a body brush with soft bristles. This will make those dead skin cells easier to scrub away.

Next, get into the bath or shower and wet your entire body. This is where the body scrub comes in. You can purchase several commercial ones in your local drugstore, but be sure to opt for one that has a grainy texture like sea salt, oatmeal or ground almonds. Apply a generous amount to your loofah or body brush, and use gentle, circular motions. Be careful on delicate skin, like your neck and thigh area.

If you want to make your own at home, here’s a yummy one to try:  Mix coarse sugar in the raw with cinnamon and enough olive oil to make a paste. It smells good enough to eat!

Follow up with a washcloth in the opposite motion while the scrub is still on your skin.

And since exfoliating can be drying if you don’t rehydrate your skin well, make sure you apply lotion liberally all over. For feet and knees and elbows, use lotion with alpha or beta hydroxy acids.

Your Sacred Glo lotion candles are a fantastic moisturizer for your skin. Just gently blow out the flame and massage the natural oil and lotions into your skin for a glow like no other! When your candles cool, they turn into a luxurious body butter. Drench your skin in Shea butter, soybean oil, vitamin E and jojoba, and experience the calm. Addicting!